[OS X TeX] broken tex distribution

[Herbert Schulz]

On Aug 9, 2009, at 11:34 PM, Shawn Allgeier wrote:

> My TeXshop stopped working.  When I try to compile I receive the  
> following message:
> -----
> Can't find required tool
> (null) does not exist. Perhaps TeXLive was not installed or was  
> removed during a system upgrade. If so, go to the TeXShop web site  
> and follow the instructions to (re)install TeXLive. Another  
> possibility is that a tool path is incorrectly configured in TeXShop  
> preferences. This can happen if you are using the fink teTeX  
> distribution.
> -----
> I tried deleting my old distribution (2007) and upgrading to 2008  
> since it was time.  I still receive the same message.  Is something  
> configured incorrectly between the front and back ends?
>
> -Shawn


Howdy,

What do you get if you execute

which pdflatex

in Terminal? If nothing then something messed up the /usr/texbin  
symlink. Do you have a /Library/TeX/ folder? What distribution does  
the TeX Distribution System Preference Pane say is active? What is the  
(pdf)TeX Path Setting in TeXShop->Preferences->Engine->Path Settings?

Good Luck,

Herb Schulz
(herbs at wideopenwest dot com)